Speaking at the kick off of the distribution  of clearance for onward disbursement of cash to the beneficiaries at the IEDPU secretariat on Garin Alimi Road, Ilorin, the  Chairman, Education Committee of the union, Professor Sheu Jimoh,  said the union was  committed to the upliftment of the communities in the emirate by providing supports to students in the area.

He said the IEDPU decided to award bursary  to outstanding students and those who have distinguished themselves both in character and learning with a view to getting the gesture transformed into scholarship soon.

Jimoh also said that  N2 million had been disbursed to beneficiaries in the tertiary institutions and secondary schools stressing that, "we hope that the gesture will complement the efforts of the parents/guardians in their quest for educational growth and development in the emirate."

He noted  that a total number of 214 out of 356 students of Ilorin emirate indigene who applied for the bursary were  selected following their excellent performances during interview.

The don, however, charged beneficiaries to justify the award by being good ambassadors of the emirate even as he condemned the shedding of innocent souls under the guise of Jihad.

"The best jihad one can embark upon in the present day is that of intellect. Please, for God sake, be good ambassadors of the emirate as we look forward to seeing in greater heights in the nearest future," he said.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a student in the Department of Business Administration, University of Ilorin, Mallam Saheed Moh'd Jamiu commended the union and advised well-to-do individuals to rally round IEDPU in its efforts to take education to a greater heights.